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Linebacker Keion Joyner an important commit for Florida State

After some confusion Saturday, Keion Joyner’s commitment to FSU became official.

Keion Joyner’s strange day Saturday ended with some confusion.

But in the end, the four-star linebacker from Havelock, N.C., became an important commit for Florida State.

Originally, Joyner was expected to make his announcement during the Under Armour All-America Game, but decided he would wait, despite having made his decision. So ESPN taped Joyner committing to FSU on the field following the game in the Citrus Bowl with the plan to release the announcement at a later date. The problem was the audio was heard on the field and in the press box.

So much for Joyner having his moment.

Joyner was unaware it was heard and told reporters who had already reported the news he had not committed. While some scrambled to report the decision was not final, Joyner finally confirmed the commitment and minutes later it was official.

Joyner’s commitment ends a rocky road after he played just three games for Havelock this season before being dismissed from the team. Reasons were not given for the dismissal and Joyner tweeted at the time, “It’s all a misunderstanding.”

At one point some had the 6-3, 200-pound Joyner as the No. 1 player in the 2016 class. Joyner, who is the nation’s No. 14 outside linebacker according to the 247Sports’ composite rankings, credits his relationship with Seminoles DE/OLB coach Brad Lawing as crucial in the decision.

He picked FSU over LSU.

“Florida State’s the right school for me because the coaching chemistry I have with coach Lawing,” Joyner told Wayne McGahee III of NoleDigest. “He’s up front and tells me everything. He doesn’t sugar coat. He’s just as real with me and I love that about people and coaches.”

Lawing spoke to Joyner the day after he was booted from his high school team.

“The day after it happened we talked on the phone, and he was like, ‘I’m still coming after you. I’m going to talk to the coach and see if he will still let me recruit you, but I’m still coming after you,’” Joyner told NoleDigest. “That spoke volumes to me.”

Joyner, the Seminoles’ 18th pledge for the 2016 class, and four-star prospect Emmett Rice are the lone linebackers in the class so far. The Seminoles were woefully thin at the position this season because of injuries and attrition and will lose both starters from this season, seniors Reggie Northrup and Terrance Smith.

The Seminoles’ class is ranked No. 3 by 247Sports, No. 4 by ESPN and No. 6 by Rivals and No. 9 by Scout.